Makeup as Skincare: The Best Foundation Ingredients for a Healthy, Flawless Complexion

Finding the best foundation for your skin isn’t always easy. While you want a product that can flawlessly hide any imperfections, it’s also important to consider what is best for your unique skin needs. After all, foundation sits on our face for hours on end. Thankfully, there’s such a thing as makeup as skincare! The goal? Use your makeup to not only enhance your features temporarily but also to nurture it at the same time. To make your next shopping spree trouble-free try looking out for the following five ingredients that are also in our I Conceal Flawless Foundation.

Squalane

Squalane is naturally present in our skin lipid barrier, preventing moisture loss to help keep skin flexible. Much like collagen, the amount of squalane in our bodies decreases as we age, contributing to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Squalane hasn’t always been popular in the mainstream, but it’s been a favorite of dermatologists and skin-care formulators for a long time. Since it has a molecular structure that’s close to natural sebum, squalane works very well with your skin (it doesn’t just sit on the surface). You also won’t end up with that heavy, greasy feel after a few hours. Instead, your foundation will just feel like a second skin, comfortable and light.

Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide

If you want a little boost of sunscreen to your daily regimen, try choosing a foundation formulated with SPF. This brings us to our next two ingredients: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are mineral sunscreens, which means they work by sitting on top of your skin, creating a layer that blocks the sun’s harmful radiation. If you have sensitive skin, these non-comedogenic minerals are an excellent choice (although they work on all skin types).

Zinc PCA

We know it’s been a while since our last chemistry class, but zinc PCA is a salt composed of zinc and pyroglutamic acid, which is a natural amino acid in our bodies. What?!

Pyroglutamic acid acts as a humectant, a molecule that attracts and retains moisture in the air through absorption. In our skin, however, humectants work a little differently. Instead of pulling moisture from the air, water is pulled from deeper layers of the skin up into the surface layers. Considering the fact that we see wrinkles and other visible signs of aging on the surface layers of our skin, keeping the top layer supple is crucial for smooth skin. Water also evaporates off the surface of your skin, and so, boosting your volume of humectants locks in more moisture. As a matter of fact, our bodies contain a group of humectants called Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), one of which is PCA! This team of molecules is vital to our skin’s health. As if we need another reason to love zinc PCA, it also absorbs excess sebum, saving you from having to reach for that blotting paper.

Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract

For those of us who didn’t take Latin, Opuntia Ficus-Indica refers to the prickly pear cactus. Most of us are familiar with aloe vera, and while the prickly pear cactus also has similar soothing properties, it has another important benefit. A native of the desert, this cactus has a high content of water-binding compounds. Each of these individual compounds has the ability to bind to many water molecules, helping the cactus store a high volume of water for those rainless, hot desert days. The stem extract we use contains those same hydrophilic compounds which enhance water retention.

Gotu Kola

Otherwise known as pennywort, this beautiful herb is found in India and has been used extensively in parts of Asia since the 17th century. Natural botanicals such as Gotu Kola contain many beneficial compounds which can improve the look of collagen-drained skin making them popular in anti-aging products. In this specific case, pennywort is rich in amino acids, beta-carotene, fatty acids and phytochemicals. Consider it the super blend of nutrients your skin can use to keep its youthful glow.